Near and Far

We're Moving!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:30:00 +0000

Lovely friends and readers!

Big news you may have noticed.

WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!

Yes, I just used all caps.

It's going to need a lot of updating and we're thinking about knocking out a wall. Oh my gosh, the adventure!

Come follow along, I'll be bringing the Made in Montana series with me, travel journals, life in Montana and developments on what I started calling "The Homestead."

I've moved the blog to Near and Far and there's a new Facebook page too. Come join me!

Made in Montana: Kalispell Brewing Company

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:09:00 +0000

Meet Cole and Maggie of Kalispell Brewing Company. I came across them recently and they are pretty awesome. They are joining the very cool community of young people in Montana with big ideas who are taking the plunge and opening their own businesses, especially on the brewery scene here. I admire their spirit, talents, friendliness and their guts to do this and can't wait to visit the brewery when they open later this year!

Kalispell Brewing Company, Montana beer

Q: It sounds like Cole has been brewing beer for some time, but what was it that made you two decide that now was the time to open the Kalispell Brewing Company?

Munich for Oktoberfest in 2011

Cole has been toying with the idea for nearly a decade -- right around the time he brewed his fifth or sixth batch of beer. But sometimes it takes awhile to build up enough courage and experience to plunge head first into a business venture of this scale. Since we began dating in 2010, the discussion about opening a brewery evolved from a long-time dream of Cole's to a shared mission. Cole had been working for his family's business, based in Nebraska and his job required a lot travel, including overseas. While he enjoyed his work, it wasn't his passion. Beer had long been his passion. By the summer of 2011, we were keeping our eyes peeled for the right location to establish a brewery. In February of 2012, Maggie noticed a building on 4th and Main in downtown Kalispell was for sale at a reasonable price. Together we decided that brewing beer was what we wanted to do and once we found the building, we said: It's time. Let's do this.

Q: How did you find the historic building you're renovating and what are the pros/cons of putting a brewery in the building? (From the videos and photos I just looked at, it looks fantastic!)

Maggie found the building when grabbing a cup of coffee while on a work break. It was February and the coffee shop, Colter Coffee, shared a wall with this empty brick building. She noticed the for sale sign, and when she returned home from work, told me. We looked up the listing and quickly asked for a showing. The old brick building -- which was once a car dealership, before its many incarnations since the 1980s -- captured our hearts. It was large enough to easily accommodate a brewery, with room for expansion. We really wanted the brewery to be located downtown and the location on the corner of 4th and Main couldn't have been more ideal. When we toured the building, we could visualize the beauty and potential in the aging building. We wanted to revive it. The buildings in the Kalispell downtown district have a lot of character and history and we wanted to be a part of that.
We've found that it's a balancing act between maintaining history integrity and structural integrity. We've done our best to retain the building in its original state, but we've run into instances (like the back wall, which we had to demolish) where parts of the structure were just unable to be saved. In these cases, we've tried to salvage the building materials for use elsewhere in the remodel, thereby retaining a lot of the building's original character. There have been a myriad of issues, sometimes daunting, that needed to be addressed. The roof was sagging significantly, so this winter, steel I-beams had to be installed. The brick was in rough shape, so a crew of masons labored, intensively, to restore and repair the brick. We had to preform asbestos abatement on the tile floors. It's been an adventure and a good lesson in patience. Yet we're committed to the project and to the building. And we are taking steps to ensure that the building is remodeled in the best way, and will last for a long time. The building is looking really great and we can't wait to open and share the space with the community.

Q. I asked Courtney at Glacier County Honey what it's like running a business with her husband, how does it work for you two?

Cole and I met in the winter of 2010, training for the U.S. Telemark National Championships in Whitefish. I was completely new to the sport and Cole was a member of the U.S. Regional team. We became teammates first, and then we fell in love. I think our foundation of learning about each other as teammates and ski races has helped us transition into creating a business together. We know each other's strengths and weaknesses, both in telemark ski racing and in life. As teammates, we learned how to best communicate with each other, and especially when we've traveled to Europe to compete in World Cup Telemark races, how to be each other's best fan.
Just like ski racing, there are a unique set of challenges in combining business and marriage. In the years of planning for the brewery and trying to anticipate the business once the brewery opens, we're tried to establish clear lines of communication and put each other in a position that maximizes the other's strengths. But we have to be careful because we can easily have business meetings at 7:30 in the morning, before we've even had a chance to brush our teeth. One of us might want a specific task done in a certain way and if it's not done to our liking, then there's a good chance it will come up over dinner. It's a balance. And we've had to establish boundaries, which is completely a work in progress and we know once the brewery opens, we'll be presented with another set of challenges.
But it's also an incredible and beautiful process. Together, we dream and we dream big. I think that our foundation in love and friendship has created an atmosphere that allows us to be as creative and passionate as possible. And our union as a couple gives us confidence and inspiration -- perhaps more so that if Cole had found a business partner to work with.
We have a giant sketchbook that resides on our dining room table, and when we are struck with great ideas, we pencil our thoughts. We take notes all the time and the flood of ideas is intoxicating. It's extraordinary to create the brewery together, a business that really complements our personalities.

Q: You're both from elsewhere, what brought you to Montana? And why have you decided to put down roots here?

Cole grew up outside Omaha, Nebraska and his parents had him climbing peaks in Colorado when he was still in diapers. Mountains are in his blood. I was raised in northern Michigan and my parents strapped skis to my feet when I was two. Skiing is in my blood. I always knew that one day, I'd move to the mountains. When I was 13, my family took a family ski vacation to Big Sky and I feel deeply in love with Montana. I really wanted to go to college at the University of Montana but my parents said no, fearing that I'd probably quit school and become a ski bum. So I went to college in Indiana and a week after I graduated, I moved to the Flathead Valley. I've been in the Valley since 2004. Montana felt like home the first moment I saw Flathead Lake and the peaks of Glacier. Cole's family visited Whitefish in 1999. A few years later, his parents built a house there and after Cole graduated from the University of Wisconsin, he followed his parents west. Cole loves Montana because of the mountains -- skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer. It's really wonderful to have Cole's parents in the Valley too. They've been incredibly supportive of the brewery.
For both of us, especially since we've lived in the Flathead for a while and didn't meet until three years ago, Montana was the only place to call home. What attracts us most is the natural environment; it is unparalleled beauty. To have such wild places in our backyard is inspiring. The community of the Flathead Valley is filled with genuinely good people, good businesses and good places to drink and eat. We both feel fortunate that we stumbled upon the Flathead. It is truly home; although my mom wishes Montana wasn't quite so far away from Michigan.

Q: From what I can tell, the brewery community is growing in Montana. How do you feel about being a trailblazer on the Kalispell brewery scene?

Montana is home to a number of vibrant and successful breweries. They're making really good beer. Statewide, the craft brewing scene is impressive. All of the breweries, in both big cities and the smallest towns are doing great things in their community. We may not see ourselves as trailblazers, but are appreciative of the compliment, we really just wanted to open our own brewery. Geography didn't have a lot to do with it, with the exception that we didn't want to move from the Flathead. But we're certainly honored to be Kalispell's brewery. And that's why we names the brewery after the town -- we're very proud to make beer in Kalispell's honor. We're excited with how the state has embraced craft breweries, and the community of brewers across the state is one of genuinely good people. They're very supportive of new brewers like us. Honestly, the culture of craft brewing, especially in a place like Montana, is extremely welcoming, fun-loving and collaborative. We've called upon so many established breweries with our questions and all of them are so open to helping is. Brewers and brewery fans have been extremely encouraging as we start up. It's a remarkable business.

Q: Maggie, did you know much about beer before you met Cole and what drew you in to open a brewery with your husband?

I've long been a fan of craft beer and enjoy drinking it. I love to try new styles and flavors. Always have. But I didn't know how beer was made and how it was truly the marriage of science and creativity. Cole possesses a wealth of knowledge about brewing beer. He's a scholar of it -- and not in just sampling different beers from all over the world, but he's always reading about things like water chemistry and mash pH, yeast metabolism, malting techniques and brewery QC protocol. Our bookcases are filled with books on craft brewing. Cole has deepened my knowledge and appreciation of craft brewing -- and he's patient and a great teacher. My brain doesn't process chemistry well. I am, after all, an English major (Cole is too, but he has both right and left brian capabilities).
Since high school, I've had many jobs in the food and beverage industry. My family is one that loves to cook and drink. It brings us together. And I love how breweries bring people together. People love to celebrate with beer. Breweries are a place for people to gather. I love the atmosphere of craft breweries and I love how beer punctuates life's food moments -- whether it's toasting on a hot summer's day or sharing stories about powder skiing. Stories are usually best served with a pint.
For me, I'm serving as Kalispell Brewery Co.'s Beer Ambassador. It's a perfect role for me -- I'm a writer and I love to connect with others. While I've helped Cole brew some beers, I've mostly served as his chief taste tester and honestly, how could anyone turn down that job?

Q: Lots of people go out for a drink after work or on weekends to relax and meet with friends, what do you do to unwind since beer is your business?

This probably won't shock anyone, but we do love beer. We can seriously talk and and talk about beer -- different varieties of hops, different strains of yeasts. We can go on and on about beer. And we do enjoy a beer to unwind, especially when the weather is warm and we're sitting outside on our deck with a good book and a pint of Cole's homebrew. We listen to a lot of public radio -- especially jazz. On Saturday nights we listen to Prairie Home Companion. We have two dogs, a St. Bernard and a Malamute and we spend a lot of time with them. Honestly though, we are serious book and beer nerds. We love to read and we love beer.

Q: Being so close to the outdoors and Glacier National Park, do you get to spend a lot of time outside and if so, where are your favorite spots and activities?

I think Cole and I would agree that we fell in love with Glacier first and then each other. In fact, we were engaged in Glacier and last September we were married aboard the DeSmet on Lake McDonald. We try to spend as much time as possible outside, no matter the season. We're both members of the U.S. National Telemark team so a lot of our time, especially in winter, is devoted to telemark ski racing. We also love to backcountry and Nordic ski. Come summer, you'll find us with our boots on. We love Glacier and the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, so any free time we have, we're on the trails. We're lucky that our very dear friends, Courtney and Greg Fullerton of Glacier County Honey, welcome us to their home in Babb, Montana. We like to hike with them and camp in their big field, looking at the high peaks on the east side of Glacier. Cole has taught me how to climb mountains, so each spring we draft a lift of peaks to climb. We try to get in at least one big backpacking trip in a year -- we a fondness for the Hole in the Wall backcountry site. We do know what once the brewery opens we'll probably have a little less time that we've had in the past to spend our days in Glacier, but we're okay with that. We'll probably just bug our patrons to share with us stories about their recent hikes or floats down the river.

Q: Looking back five years ago, did you imagine you'd be where you are now?

Maggie: Specifically for marrying a brewer and opening a brewery together, no. But I'm not surprised. I didn't know that I'd meet someone like Cole -- I had hoped to, but I didn't know how beautiful and powerful a relationship could be until I met him. While writing has been my passion and I am in graduate school pursuing my MFA in Creative Writing, I'm tickled that I can be the brewer of words for our company. Looking back, there were so many little steps along the way and five years ago, at age 26 I was still finding myself and finding my place in the Flathead, all those steps, including the missteps, have led to this moment. At this time, I didn't know that in five years, I'd be here, in this moment, but it doesn't come as a shock. I like how life does that, this slow revelation, this slow trail. I think my boots have been well-broken in on this trail and I'm ready for the next set of miles.

Cole: While I was certainly contemplating opening a brewery five years ago, there's an enormous difference between and idol daydream and the reality of the business. The magnitude of the project can sometimes seem overwhelming, and we haven't even opened our doors yet. Twenty-five year old Cole certainly didn't foresee all the minutiae involved in running a business -- he just thought that running a brewery involved brewing a lot of beer. The reality of this brewery is actually more exciting and more interesting than I could have imagined.

Q: What should everyone know about you and Kalispell Brewing Company?

The big question is when the brewery will open: we're hoping, crossing our fingers and toes that we'll be able to open in August. The building is still undergoing major construction. We actually have all of our brewery equipment and we're itching to get it installed and begin brewing. So, if everything goes smoothly with the building (full disclosure: it has been known to throw us a few surprises), the tasting room will open be open this summer.
Kalispell Brewing Company is a 10 barrel craft brewery with a tasting room. Cole loves German style beers so people can expect a lineup of traditional lagers in addition to a selection of Northwest style ales. Our beers will be available on draft in the tasting room. We're planning to have six beers on tap, some of which will be seasonal brews. Cole plans to mash his lagers with the decoction method, which is a little more labor intensive, but it produces distinct flavor, which you rarely find outside of Germany, Austria and Czech Republic. Our hope with our brewery is to cultivate an appreciation for beer, without any of the snootiness. Life is complicated enough, beer shouldn't be.
We've been posting our construction progress, including photos on our Facebook and Twitter sites. Our website will be completed soon, so to stay connected, visit us on Facebook or Twitter.

Monday Motivation

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:41:00 +0000

How crazy are you? And what are you going to do with it?

Source: Uploaded by user via Jenn on Pinterest

Wander Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Wed, 01 May 2013 14:16:00 +0000

Despite some springtime snow, it is starting to warm up and I'm ready to get out and explore! We haven't been to Glacier National Park in months and I'm ready to get back! Until then, a great view to hold me over.

Source: citypictures.org via Glacier Country Tourism on Pinterest

Made in Montana: Courtney Stone Fullerton

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:13:00 +0000

About a month ago, I connected with Courtney on Twitter and saw her honey at a Made in Montana marketplace in Great Falls shortly after. I'm all about buying locally and Courtney is just awesome, plus she's from Virginia! She sent me some Glacier County honey to taste test and guys, it's fantastic. I just ordered more to ship to my sister in Virginia for her birthday since she loves natural, local products...and honey.

Courtney Stone Fullerton, Montana beekeeper

Q: What made you decide to go into beekeeping with your husband?

I was practicing family law in Missoula when we met and he was keeping bees in Babb with his dad. We decided to start our own beekeeping company and so I moved to Babb when we got married and opened my own law firm in Cut Bank. The idea was that we'd have an income not tied to the vagaries of weather and bees, but it turned out that our growing company needed every moment of time I had to give. And I was fascinated by the bees, so a few years later, I shuttered the law firm and began working for Glacier County Honey full time. Technically, I'm the VP, but my job description encompasses everything from beekeeping to blogging.

Q: Your husband grew up with bees, did you have much experience with them before you met him? How did you feel about bees/beekeeping at first? (I'm pretty sure I'd be super nervous around that many bees!)

I knew nothing about bees, except that as the daughter/granddaughter/niece of farmers, I knew they were essential to our food supply. I wasn't afraid of them and Greg made sure that my first experiences were all good ones. I only wish I had time to do more hands on bee work with him. When our kids are older, I look forward to that time.

Q: You spent summers in Montana, but did you ever imagine you'd end up living here full time?

Yes, I loved the South and my family so very much, but my intention to stay in Montana formed in my early 20s when I was working near Babb, and my mid 20s were devoted to making that dream a reality. I went to law school during that time and researched where in Montana I would begin my legal career. By my late 20s, I had accomplished my goal, though I was also about to meet Greg and make new goals.

Q: As a fellow Virginia girl, tell me what it was like adjusting to Montana from your home in Virginia and college in Georgia.

I'm a small town Virginia girl and Montana has always felt like one small town to me, so the "culture" here hasn't been much of an adjustment. I do have a very hard time each and every spring when the Southern girl in me is ready for shorts and sandals and it's still dumping snow in Babb. April and May are my favorite times to get away from Montana and visit my homeland.

Q: What's it like running your own company and working with your husband?

It's tough. I don't know that I would recommend running a business as an equal shareholder to your spouse. It's really, really, really hard at times, to get through a day when you argue as business partners and then have to sit down at dinner together and act like you're happy to see each other at the end of the day. Because sometimes you're not. That's been harder for Greg and I as our daughter grows up. We don't to bring our disagreements as business owners to the family dinner table, but it happens sometimes. She definitely won't grow up with a romantic view of small business/farming! On the other hand, when something good happens to the business, it is an indescribably feeling to know that your spouse/best friend understands 100 percent just how good that good thing is and how hard you've working for it and the sharing of that accomplishment and joy pulls us through the rough times. Also, due to the nature of beekeeping, Greg goes with our bees to California for several months in the winter/spring, and though we might be absolutely sick of making decisions together in January, when he leaves, by the time he returns home in April or May, we've missed the daily drudgery of togetherness so much that it gets us through another honey season.

Q: From your blog, it seems like you have fun while working, but how do you manage running a business, raising a toddler and having a little bit of down time?

I don't know that we're doing a very good job at the balance, because we both believe that work comes first, and that the toddler and her siblings will grow up knowing that. Greg and I believe that a strong work ethic will take you anywhere in life and that there is nothing more important to model for our kids. That said, there is an opportunity to play. We play so very hard and we can't wait to include our kids in all the fun that Montana offers. I love to hike, Greg loves to hunt, and there's more to do outside in Montana than we could ever fit into a lifetime.

Q: What are your favorite things about living and working in Montana?

It's easy enough to say that my favorite thing is having Glacier National Park as my backyard because I absolutely relish those stolen summer days that I sneak away to climb a new peak or take a hike I've hiked a thousand times before with old friends. But really, it's the people that make me so happy to live and work in Montana. I've rarely met a stranger in Montana and even more rarely, a fellow small business owner who wasn't trying to support other small Montana businesses with his/her own. My youthful impression of Montana as one large small town I could fit right into was right on the money and I'm proud to say I have friends statewide.

8. Looking back 10 years, did you think you'd be where you are now?

Gosh, no. Ten years ago, I was 23 and working as a waitress/pastry chef for the Depot in Missoula. My summer/fall days centered on the Blackfoot River and trips to Glacier National Park, my first love. My winter/spring days centered on downhill skiing, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. My biggest responsibility was making the monthly rent and my biggest concern was never missing an outdoor concert in Missoula. I never dreamed that in 10 years, I'd be married and have borrowed a pile of money from a bank on the back of a dream and honeybee wings and run a company that employees five people near Babb! To say nothing of a blonde haired, blue eyed little girl that I wasn't sure, back then, I wanted to have and the one on the way.

Q: What something everyone should know about you and Glacier County Honey?

Everyone should know that the way to my heart is via fresh produce, or strange ice cream offerings from the Big Dipper in Missoula and Sweet Peaks in Whitefish -- both hard to come by in Babb, but guaranteed to get you an invitation to couch surf in the Warehome.
Everyone should know that Glacier County Honey Company opens its doors to the public one day per year (Aug. 10 this year) to meet the bees and see how honey is produced. We get thousands of emails and phone calls every year filled with questions about bees, beekeeping, honey, wax and the like and it's impossible to answer them fully, but we do a darn good job of responding in person on this one day per year.
It's so much fun, please join us!

Should We Be Worried...About Those Bison?

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 23:34:00 +0000

It's been rare that I have a regular weekend off lately, so when I had one last week, I wanted to do something.

It was Easter weekend, but it was also an odd time because the snow was melting so snowshoeing was iffy, but snowplow operations (which is a massive undertaking) was just getting started, so options were limited.

But, it was also the end of the quiet season, before the summer craziness started.

Debating between Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park, we decided that Glacier would be too much snow, and we go there all the time. Yellowstone turns into a bit of a madhouse in the summer, so I really wanted to make a return trip before the crowds poured in.

Source: ffffound.com via Joani on Pinterest

The last time I'd been to Yellowstone was at least 10 years ago. I'm pretty sure it was on a cross-country trip with the family when were moving to a new Air Force base, probably from Texas to South Dakota, or South Dakota to Vegas.

We weren't sure what we'd be able to do since most roads were closed in the park, but we packed up the camping gear, snacks and snowshoes and hit the road. Clear, sunny skies and springlike weather made the four hour drive even more beautiful.

Mammoth Hot Springs campground is open year round and it wasn't too crowded so we found a quiet spot and set up while we had daylight. As we were setting up our tent, two guys walked up to us and started asking something about the grill.

Turns out, they're from France and spending 46 days traveling the American West. One had a job related to wine so we gushed about that and he was on his way to California for something involving wine for work.

While we were talking, a pack (not sure of the proper term for a group) of bison walked right into our campsite. They were a few yards away when one of the French guys asked if we should be worried. Mark said no, not unless they came straight at us. I scurried over to the car to grab the camera, and as I took a photo, they started running toward the car. They ran past me and the car, very closely, and off the road and down the hill.

We went back to chatting. The French guys were telling us about what they'd seen and where they were planning to go in their van with a purple dragon painted on the side. Puff, they called it.

Mark gave them tips on grilling in the campsite and we made a quick run to the store for s'mores supplies and wine. It definitely got chilly overnight, but we stayed up roasting marshmellows and star gazing.

The next morning, we explored Mammoth Hot Springs and dodged tourists. We checked out the road to the Yellowstone canyon and Old Faithful, just in case, but they were closed for construction and snow.

Instead, we doubled back to hike to the petrified tree, which is just one tree about 1.5 miles off the main road. We broke out the snowshoes for the last bits of snow and then continued past the tree to the Lost Lake. It was a beautiful day, hot even, as we were trudging through a hardly used trail, following bison tracks. I was having visions of falling through the creek or the lake, but figured if bison can do it, so can we. Then the snow ran out and it was just muddy so we turned around. In some spots, we were walking crooked as we angled around steep inclines, and then had to go straight back up a steep hill. Even with the heel rail thing on the snowshoes that makes hills easier, it felt like I was snowshoeing in high heels.

We ran into the French guys again, they had no snow boots, or really boots of any kind, but they seemed to be having a great time. They were off to find dinosaurs before heading to their next destinations.

After watching part of a documentary about wilderness and development earlier this week that included scenes of massive crowds in Yellowstone, I was again grateful we went when we did. But, we'll definitely head back to explore the canyon and I wouldn't mind seeing Old Faithful again.

Check another one off 30 by 30.

Monday Motivation

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:36:00 +0000

Because we got up at 5:30 a.m. to run with the dogs this morning. Not because I like running, but it keeps us in shape and even on my worst runs, it's really just up to me to give as much as I can and then do better the next day. Yesterday was the IceBreaker, the biggest event in town, and I ran the 3-mile race with a friend. But after cramming in runs last week and struggling, I did notice that today felt a little easier, minus the 40+ mph winds and Grover misbehaving.

Source: cdnimg.visualizeus.com via Pame on Pinterest

Throwback Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:59:00 +0000

From back in the day on one of our many, many, many trips to Mount Rushmore when we lived in South Dakota.

I had a thing for big, bright headbands back then. Clearly, I was super cool.

A Life of Travel

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:59:00 +0000

My friend Markeshia over at Too Thrifty Chicks, sent this to me last week.

The author is discussing what a life of travel does to you and though I haven't been abroad for months at a time, except while studying abroad, and don't get to travel as much as I'd like, I found myself nodding along in agreement to this article.

Once you travel, even just once, the bug keeps hold of you forever.

"The temptation is always there just to take off work, drop everything, and go. And once you have a trip on the books, it's inevitable that your eyes creep toward a calendar during any spare moment and instinctually count down the days until you can flee. There's a constant itch that gets under your skin, and the only way to scratch it involves a plane (or train or bus) ticket, a backpack, and plans that don't go beyond 'just get me out.'"

My semester in New Zealand opened my eyes to travel and how wonderful it really is. A year after I got back from Aotearoa, I bought a spur of the moment plane ticket to London. I had friends there who'd I'd met in New Zealand and stayed with them. I remember sitting on that flight, next to a crazy German woman who was making the poor flight attendant's life miserable, that I could go anywhere, anytime. All I had to do was decide to go, and get on a plane. It really is that simple.

Source: examiner.com via Jenn on Pinterest

That feeling all on its own is incredibly freeing and empowering. It's knowing that while you can't control much in life, you are the one that makes a life of travel happen. Yes, it can be expensive and takes up vacation time, but honestly, when you want to go, you go. No one will make it happen for you. No one is going to plan the trip of a lifetime for you and besides, that's half the fun.

Perhaps it was growing up military, or maybe that I started traveling, that my biggest fear was always sitting still. Now that I'm approaching 30, a putting down some roots, there's something nice about the idea of having a home base, a community, that you get away from at times to explore the world and see it for all its wonders and differences, but are always glad to come back home again.

A life of travel makes you see things in your daily life differently. It makes you more comfortable in your own skin, more confident in yourself because you have navigated foreign streets yourself and made in through in countries where you don't speak the language. It's a beautiful thing when strangers, who can't really communicate with you in words, try their best to find a way to communicate and help you and befriend you. There's so much evil in the world, but when you travel, you see how good people are, despite your differences. It makes more understanding and more tolerant.

You will find yourself in places you see in magazines and on tv and though you've seen it before, nothing compares to seeing it in real life and experiencing it yourself. A life of travel gives you a constant feeling of "I am here," and that is a simply life changing moment.

Made in Montana: Hannah Ettema

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:13:00 +0000

Made in Montana is back! I am really loving this series and the people I'm meeting/getting to know through it. This state is full of fantastic people!

This week, meet Hannah Ettema, a very fun young lady I met through Twitter. She's pretty awesome, you should follow her on Twitter too.

It was three days before our opening night and I felt like crying.

Transitions were rough at best. Some of my cast was sick. I forgot my theatre keys at the theatre. But everyone kept telling me it’d come together. That seemed as likely as a Mac and PC holding hands.

As the Stage Manager for Missoula Community Theatre’s production of Miracle on 34^th St., I held the production together with my very two hands.

Thanks to my mom, I grew up appreciating the arts. We frequently traveled to theatres to see touring Broadway shows or musical concerts. One of my favorite places, Stratford, Ontario, will forever be a magical place to me. The Stratford Festival, the largest classical repertory theatre in North America, has hosted the likes of Maggie Smith, Alec Guinness, William Shatner, Christopher Plummer and others. Every season they put on a dozen shows taking you to Verona, Neverland, or Ancient Greece. A mere 3 hours away from my Michigan hometown, Stratford transported me far off places.

My high school didn’t have community theatre or any theatre worth mentioning. As I passed through my teen years, drooling as I watched behind-the-scenes extras of my favorite movies, I found I not only loved the storytelling, but the way in which it happened.

Due to my other commitments and lack of ambition, I never delved into theatre until moving to Missoula.

A few months after graduating from Michigan State University, I got a job doing communications for the National Forest Foundation and moved to Western Montana. Fast forward a year later, and I found myself at the Missoula Community Theatre’s Volunteer Appreciation Night.

I have a strong belief that things happen to people who show up. And that night, I showed up. I happened to meet the head Volunteer Coordinator Guru, Matt. He sensed my excitement and eagerness to help and gave me a tour of the theatre while introducing me to key people.

My willingness to jump in was how I ended up on the Stage Crew for MCT’s first show of the season,

Camelot. My backstage duties entailed moving furniture, helping with a costume change, and crocheting. Well, crocheting wasn’t exactly a duty but it did help pass the time.

Sometime during my 3 week stint on Camelot I caught the attention of the right people. The Director, Joe, also the Creative Director for MCT, recommended me to Michael, the Executive Director of MCT and the Director of the next MCT production, Miracle on 34^th St. When Matt passed this information along to me, I was flabbergasted. No really, I wasn’t trying to be awesome in a way that screamed: OMG-I’m-the-best-thing-that-has-ever-happened-backstage-use-me-again. I simply liked being involved with great people.

And I was scared to say yes. I had never been a Stage Manager in any capacity and I had hardly worked backstage in any fashion. But I listened to my gut and a pin I frequently see on Pinterest: Do what scares you.

And you know what?

I owned it. One disastrous cold (earning me the nickname Hans). 50+ cast members. 14 shows. Hundreds of cues. And a lot of laughter.

I didn’t believe it would come together, but somehow, magically it did.

My coworkers and friends asked why I was doing it. Why was I sacrificing 4 weeks of my evenings and weekends while working full-time? My answer changed frequently, each time trying to articulate my passion for the arts and storytelling and my belief that it is not limited to New York or Los Angeles or a movie theater. More than 60 people came together to make something bigger than themselves happen for the community. None of us would have been there if we didn’t love it.

Sure, I had my bad moments and doubts. But those moments made the best ones all that much sweeter. Nailing that scene change. Dancing with glow sticks in the booth to make the cast smile during a long weekend. Coming to tears before our last show.

I’ve already made it very clear that I want to jump in again. There will always be a place for stories and community. And where those two come together, that is where I’ll be.

Monday Motivation

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:23:00 +0000

Watch me! What will you do today?

Source: Uploaded by user via HERBALIFE INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR SASA on Pinterest

Catching Up

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 22:59:00 +0000

Things have been nuts with work, travel, personal stuff and just all around craziness.

Apologies all, but we'll return to our regularly scheduled content next week.

Side note, I'm doing a complete and total overhaul of the blog, so prepare yourself for some awesomeness in the coming weeks.

Monday Motivation

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:30:00 +0000

Get out of your comfort zone and make big things happen!

Source: amyjalapeno.com via Michael on Pinterest

Made in Montana: Aaron Appelwick

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:29:00 +0000

It's Made in Montana again today!

I met Aaron through a friend and a story on Team Red White Blue, which is a pretty cool organization for veterans and military members. He started the Montana chapter of the organization and is always on the go. When I was fighting a miserable cold but decided to attempt the local 10K during below freezing temperatures, Aaron won the whole thing!

Here he talks about issues facing veterans and what he and his organization are doing about it. If you want to find out more or get involved, check out their Facebook page and their Twitter feed.

Aaron Appelwick, Team RWB Montana founder

The Veterans Situation
Nearly 2.5 million American men and women have deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom since 2001. Over the next four years, approximately 1.2 million service members will retire or separate from active duty, creating a huge number of new veterans.

While a tremendous amount of support has been focused on wounded veterans, much of that support occurs between the time of injury and discharge from active duty or in-patient care. Further, there is an enormous population of veterans who suffer from the invisible wounds of TBI (traumatic brain injury), PTS (post traumatic stress), depression and survivor's remorse. Many of these veterans have not been diagnosed with an injury and will not actively seek care.

Most combat veterans struggle with re-integration to some degree. A recent study shows that 58 percent of veterans do not return to their hometown upon leaving the service.

Team RWB's Approach
Our mission is to enrich the lives of America's veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity. Our chapters establish local programs that provide consistent opportunities for veterans to meet other veterans and members of their community through activities like running, cycling, CrossFit, picnics and ball games. With chapters in almost 40 cities and growing, we are poised and committed to delivering consistent programs to veterans over a long period of time, where they live.

Team TWB chapters facilitate weekly exercise events, monthly social events, as well as attending numerous local races and athletic events. These activities create connected communities where all members benefit from being part of the Team. We also have programs to support referred veterans through one on one or small group interactions and often provide financial support for veterans to acquire the proper exercise gear or sign up for a local race.

Recent research has shown exercise to be a very effective tool for combating depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress. In fact, some studies show it to be as effective as medication and counseling. When that exercise is conducted in a group or team setting, there is a multiplier effect. A recent survey showed that 41 percent of veterans would exercise more if they had a group or team to do it with .

Ultimately, the challenge of veteran reintegration is vast and and complex. While we may not be able to solve all veterans issues, we know that exercise and personal connectivity is making veterans better. Knowing that, we are committed to building communities and programs that provide this service.

I was asked to start the Montana chapter in August 2012 when we have three members. Since then, we have been growing steadily and are now at 24 members! Montana is a great state with a lot of veterans so we wanted to give them a group to feel comfortable in .We have a diverse group of members, from Purple Heart recipients, to active duty veterans and civilians. Anyone can join and get involved. Just log on to www.teamrwb.org/get-involved/join-the-team. It takes 30 seconds to become a part of something great!

As for me, my name is Aaron Appelwick. I am a staff sergeant in the United States Air Force. I am currently a security forces member who is one of six airmen to have attended the International Special Training Centre's Patrol Medic course, being given the opportunity to get trained by U.S. Army Green Beret 18 Deltas (medics) and other NATO Special Forces medics. I have served in the AF for nine years and deployed numerous times throughout Europe, Southeast Asia and Africa. Exercise has always been a part of my life and is something I would never want to go without. It is one of the best stress relievers I have. Even my wife can notice a significant difference in my attitude when I'm not exercising; I am a much happier person when I am staying active.

I became involved with Team RWB first as an athlete in 2010 after I raced in the Armed Forces Triathlon as a member of the USAF team. A couple of my teammates were part of Team RWB and I was really drawn to the mission and wanted to be a part of something so powerful and race for something other than myself.

Monday Motivation

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:30:00 +0000

Be yourself. In the end, it's one of the few things that matters.

Source: thevirtualtypewriter.tumblr.com via Kimberley on Pinterest

Follow Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:55:00 +0000

There's so much awesomeness floating around the web that you could seriously spend all day reading it and seeing where it leads you.

Here's a few of the fun things I found this week. And shoutouts to my friends and their great blogs!

Came across this one, can't remember how actually, but it's adorable.

I met Christen last year and guys, she is awesome. If you're in to fashion and style, you need to follow her and check out her blog.

My co-worker Erin is a rockstar outdoors reporter. She knows everything there is to know about outdoor activities in Great Falls and beyond. Read about her adventures and pictures of her sweet dog here.

This guy had a blog coaching giveaway recently and I WON! I'm talking to him today and kinda excited about it.

And guys, I'm officially a guest blogger! I've had two guest posts in the last few weeks and I'm stoked!
One on DC Ladies. You should check out their site, it's great. And another on my friend Jennifer's blog, which is awesome by the way.

Source: delightfuldesignideas.com via Lori on Pinterest

Throwback Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 03:25:00 +0000

I didn't really realize this was a thing until last week.

But, my sister commented on this photo, as she so enjoys putting our childhood photos on Facebook and I got a good chuckle out of it.

"Dad's probably thinking, couldn't I get one normal kid," my sister wrote. And well. It cracks me up. That's me in the pink coat, owning that sledding adventure. In our backyard. In South Dakota. You'd never catch me in a pink coat these days.

Sisterly love, y'all. We see these photos and we laugh so hard we cry.

Kid President Rocks

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:44:00 +0000

You've seen Kid President pep talk, if not, go watch it. Seriously. Amazing. I wrote about it January here.

Today, the White House press secretary posted that POTUS and KPOTUS finally met.

At first, I thought it had something to do with Korea, but then thought, hey wait, they can't have a POTUS.

Next thought was it's KID PRESIDENT!

We probably can't all meet the president and sit at the desk in the Oval Office, but we can all try to change the world. You in?

Wander Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 13:40:00 +0000

Cannot wait to get our kayaks back on the water!

Source: sphaha.alone.at via Debbie on Pinterest

Panda Cuteness

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 20:45:00 +0000

Guys, I love pandas. Like, love them. I still have a few stuffed pandas that I refuse to part with despite turning 30 this year.

As a kid, I desperately wanted to go to the San Diego Zoo when they got pandas, only to get there and due to some sort of political issue with China, the pandas weren't there. All I could think was stupid people, I want PANDAS!

I did get a poster though, that I had for ages. I also dragged a Marine friend to the D.C. Zoo a few years ago for the panda's first birthday. It was sleeping the whole time, but I didn't care. I pushed my way up to see it, with all the kids and their hats and balloons and other overpriced nonsense.

In my mind, it doesn't get cuter or cooler than pandas. My puppy can compete in cuteness, but pandas are flippin' cool. During the last move, I also found a letter from President Clinton, in response to my letter asking him to save the pandas. I was that kid. Ask my parents. They'll tell you about my panda love that borders on obsession.

So, I have to share this photo I saw from the San Diego Zoo today on Facebook.

You're welcome.

Made in Montana: Jessica Lowry

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:56:00 +0000

Ladies and gents, introducing the first of the Made in Montana series.

I met Jess through the awesomeness of the World Wide Web and the more I learn about her, the more I like her. I think y'all will too.

Check on her online portfolio and follow her on Twitter for sure.

Jessica Lowry, Montana Photographer

Q: When did you realize you wanted to be a professional photographer?

I took an intro to photojournalism class my junior year in college on the recommendation of a friend. It was a perfect match for what I wanted to do. I ended up doing internships and becoming the photo editor of the college newspaper at The University of Georgia. I've been working in photography in some capacity ever since.

Q: What brought you to Montana?

Glacier National Park. By Jessica Lowry.

My husband is originally from Missoula. We met each other when we were both staff photographers at a newspaper in Tennessee. He was smart and brought me out to Montana in the summer -- a perfect escape from humid and hot Southern summers. After briefly moving to England for grad school and deciding it was too expensive, we decided to make a move to Montana. It was a major transition for me but over time I have really grown to love it here. And it is wonderful being near my husband's family.

Q: Montana is a bit different from George, what were the biggest adjustments for you? (I spent a few years in Alabama, then went back to Virginia before coming to Montana, so I'm loving that other people have made similar moves!)

There were a lot of adjustments for me. It isn't as diverse here as Atlanta and that is something I really miss still. And the whole winter thing is a 180 out here. But the people and how friendly they are is a perfect match for a Southerner. I have made quite a few friends out here that are also Southern and I feel like there is a common bond there. You are tied to two places (Montana and the South) that are both full of pride about where they come from. I will forever be from Georgia, but Montana has been a great place to make a home.

Q: You travel internationally and around the country for photographs, what are some of your favorite destinations? (I saw you were in Rome last year, so was I!)

Rome. By Jessica Lowry.

Oh man -- Rome is up there as a favorite. Italy was really amazing and I can't wait to go back. I also really love coastal Georgia. It is old and completely different than anywhere else I've been. The moss and the people and the history -- it's just a really captivating place. I also really love London. I think it still holds a place as my favorite city.

Q: What are the challenges and the most gratifying parts of working abroad?

Most of the time my work abroad has been self driven. So -- being motivated to decide where you want to go and what you want to work on -- and then figuring out how to pitch that or connect what you are working on with people who are interested -- that's challenging. But I love travel and I can't imagine my life without it. I am never the same after a trip and I find travel has a way of simplifying my life. You are forced into the present moment. It's something that photography does for me too -- and probably a reason I love them both.

Q: Thinking back, say 5 years ago, are you where you thought you'd be?

Umm..no. I never in a million years would have guessed that I would be living in Montana. But it is a great fit. I thought I would be living outside of the United States and 5 years ago I thought I was going to switch to being a graphic designer. The older I get, the more I love travel, but the more rooted I am in the places where the people I love live. I love coming home more and more.

Made in Montana

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 21:30:00 +0000

If you've been reading, you know I love my new home state.

It's beautiful and people are wonderful.

They have a major campaign supporting local products and they come with a Made in Montana logo.

In that spirit, I'm launching a Made in Montana series on the blog.

The series will feature people, businesses and places from all over the state. The topics will range greatly, but I'm stoked about it.

I'm still new in town, but this place has welcomed me with open arms and has become home.

Hopefully, this series will help you feel the wonderful spirit of this place as much I do.

The series will kick off tomorrow, get excited folks!

Monday Motivation

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:30:00 +0000

There is a lovely truth to this.

Source: 3.bp.blogspot.com via Mary on Pinterest

We Got Snowshoes!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 14:15:00 +0000

When we finished our cross country roadtrip and got home to Montana, boyfriend had snowshoes waiting for me. He got a pair for both of us.

My first weekend as a Montana resident, we hit the trails. We probably should have unpacked or cleaned or something like that, but we decided to test the new gear.

We found a trail not far from Great Falls, near Showdown ski resort, Silver Crest Trail. Not entirely sure we ended up on the trail we meant to explore, but we found a good two mile loop with a beautiful overlook.

The snow was fairly packed since this seemed to be a popular trail. The map showed a lake, but there was so much snow it was hard to tell where it was. In some places, the snow was at the tops of trees. Short trees, but still.

Walking in snowshoes take a little getting used to, but our first snowshoe outing was pretty great.

The next weekend, we headed out again. This time to Lolo National Forest, probably two hours from Great Falls, on the way to Missoula. We turned at Ovando onto a dirt road to Monture Creek Campground. We planned on a loop that would have been 8 to 10 miles, we thought.

We missed the trail we wanted and ended up going nearly 4 miles straight out when we checked our distance.

This trail had mostly been used for cross country skiing and it was fluffy, so it was tough going in snowshoes. We were basically high stepping through the entire forest.

Around mile 4, I noticed I was getting blisters that only worsened. We started late so we worried that it would get to dark if we kept going and we were tired of high stepping.

We turned around and headed back the way we came, which didn't get any easier even with us smashing snow all over.

The entire way back I was thinking of how much I wanted to drink red wine when we got home. But I was so tired that I fell asleep in the car and when we got home, I was too tired to drink the bottle my friend had given me as a welcoming gift.

The next weekend, we headed to Helena with one of boyfriend's co-workers and his wife to snowshoe. But, the snow was light so we decided to hike it instead. The snow got deeper, for sure, but snowshoeing would have been tough on some parts.

We went explored Trout Creek Canyon outside Helena and I decided it looked very Narnia-like. It was beautiful! Some spots were icy and there were a handful of near wipeouts but it was a great hike and not too cold that day. Plus, time with new friends is always a blast.

Soggy shoes and windblown, we went to Buffalo Wild Wings for food and drink. Margaritas were a must after hiking in snow and for once I managed to stay awake the whole way home.

Follow Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Rowell) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 21:30:00 +0000

Some Friday shoutouts for my favorite bloggers and recently discovered gems. Next week starts a few new series with guest posts and Q&As from friends, friends of friends and people I only know though the interwebs. Get excited. They are fantastic.

First up, my good buddies over at Too Thrify Chicks.

My former co-worker, Kym, is in Ukraine right now. Her post this week is amazing.

My friend Jenn has a fun blog that I'll be guest posting for next week. You should check it out!

My cousin's wife, Brittany, blogs about all kinds of fun things and I love her writing style. And her!

A friend of a friend I met in Rome, lives in Montana, and has a gorgeous photo blog.

Molly and I went to college together and served in student government together. She is hilarious and her blog is awesome.

Have I mentioned that I know amazing people?

And some recent finds.

Kristen at Rage Against the Minivan. I actually found this one awhile ago, but especially loved her recent post on holiday overload.

For recipe brilliance, check out How Sweet It Is and The Girl Who Ate Everything.

Love these kids at The Lettered Cottage, especially with their brilliant home improvement ideas. I'm all about home improvement/updates right now, so this is great for ideas.

My super awesome Aunt Maureen told me about this one and how I hadn't found it sooner is beyond me. I love this couple at Young House Love and there's a chance we're turning into them with home improvements in the very near future. Plus, they live in Virginia, my mighty Commonwealth.